“Providing—that’s not love,” he says. “Being there—that’s more important. I mean, we see that. We see that with all these rich socialites. They’re crying out for attention; they’re hurting for love. I’m not being judgmental—I’m just making an observation. They’re crying out for the love that maybe they didn’t get at home, and they got everything. All the material things that they need and want. So we know that’s not the key.”

The Isley Brothers’ “Between the Sheets”—the epochal quiet-storm jam that Sean Combs built Biggie’s equally epochal “Big Poppa” around—comes on the restaurant’s speakers. Jay tunes out for a minute. “I grew up listening to this,” he says with a smile. That’s art workin’. I ask if little Bey-Z will grow up listening to his catalog, and Jay says of course—when the time comes, he’ll start with Reasonable Doubt, go from there. “There will be a lot of that,” he says. “And a lot of other records, all pivotal, important records. There’ll be Ready to Die, there’ll be Illmatic.”

So will the God MC be changing diapers?

“Of course, of course. One hundred percent.”

And will we see you putting the car seat in the Maybach?

“Yeah,” Jay smiles. “Wouldn’t that be great? That would be a great picture.”

Awwwww we love it! And how dope that he mentions both Biggie and Nas’ first albums as music he’ll make sure his kid hears with him.